ESPN’s GameDay Aggieland-bound for Florida showdown

COLLEGE STATION – It’s official, according to Texas A&M athletics and the ESPN GameDay hosts: ESPN GameDay will be in College Station on Saturday for the Aggies’ ballyhooed Southeastern Conference opener against Florida.

The GameDay crew was already in Aggieland once this summer, in filming a commercial that will begin running Monday after A&M won an ESPN online poll in edging Nebraska.

The Aggies are champing to play after their supposed opener, last Thursday against Louisiana Tech, was postponed until Oct. 13 because of Hurricane Isaac that hit the Louisiana coast last week. Florida defeated Bowling Green 27-14 today in the Gators’ opener.

GameDay last attended an A&M game in 2006 and prior to that in 2000, both narrow losses to Oklahoma. The Gators and Aggies kickoff at 2:30 p.m. in their first meeting since 1977 (and only third ever).

A&M bolted the Big 12 after 16 seasons and entered the rugged SEC, winner of the last six national titles, this summer. This marks A&M’s first conference contest in its new league in any sport. The Aggies will also debut a new coach in Kevin Sumlin and a new quarterback in Johnny Manziel.